The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given 600,000 farmers in Pakistan access to a reliable water supply for irrigation through the Trimmu and Panjnad barrages. This has benefitted 1.7 million hectares of farmland in the Punjab province.
The bank claims that the recent improvements to the Trimmu and Panjnad barrages have had a positive impact on water resource management in the province.
This, in turn, has increased agricultural productivity, food security, and resilience against climate risks. The increased capacity to regulate the flow of water has protected many farmlands from flooding.
“As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, ADB will continue to help make agriculture in Pakistan more climate resilient,” the bank said.
Commenting on the barrages and improvement of water flow, Country Director for Pakistan, Yong Ye, said, “ADB is helping Punjab province to improve water resource management and increase productivity of irrigated agriculture to ensure food security and to respond to climate change challenges.”
Farmers in the Trimmu and Panjnad region rely on the barrages there to regulate the flow of water and protect their land from flooding. However, due to the barrages’ aging structures and the effects of climate change, the region has been experiencing more frequent and intense floods and droughts. But with the rehabilitation of the barrages, flood control has improved.
The automatic gates and real-time monitoring of the barrages allow for regulated water flow. The previous, manually controlled system required more people to handle it and it was difficult for staff to operate during floods.
Pakistan’s barrage structures are in need of upgrading after close to 100 years since their construction. Donors are supporting the process, which is expected to take 10 years or more.
